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- The Valley of Virginia or the Shenandoah Valley, which was stretched from Winchester, the county seat of Frederick County, Virginia to Roanoke, the county seat of Botetourt County, Virginia, is bordered by the Blue Ridge mountains to the East and the Allegheny mountains to the West. This Valley of Virginia does also includes the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. It was the first gateway for the pioneer settlers to settle it.
During the eighteenth century, the Valley of Virginia, or the Shenandoah Valley, was considered as the true, yet first ÒbackcountryÓ frontier in the colony of Virginia. Colonial Virginia governors and its public officials had encouraged the settlers from other locations in British Colonies to settle and live there as the true buffer against French and Indian claims in the mountains of northwestern and western Virginia. Almost all pioneer settlers came from the Province of Pennsylvania and Maryland. They had crossed over the Potomac River into the lower Valley of Virginia.Later, they migrated to the upper Valley of Virginia.
From ANCESTRY'S RED BOOK, American State, County & Town Sources, Revised Edition by Ancestry Incorporated, this map above clearly shows the area in yellow with the county seat underlined which it is still the center of this writers almost 50 years of Ragan/Reagan family and historical research.
From page 43 of A HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA by John Walter Wayland, it stated that "the majority of these settlers had come up the Valley from Maryland and Pennsylvania, but a few had come across the Blue Ridge from East Virginia.Ó Again, on page 238 of the same publication, it stated that Òmost of these came up the Valley from Pennsylvania and Maryland prior to 1800."
As appeared from this writers almost 50 years of Ragan/Reagan family and historical research on the first Timothy Ragan/Reagan, his children and his grandchildren, several Ragan/Reagan families from Anne Arundel County, Maryland were now considered as the one of "backcountry" pioneer settlers during 1750's, and 1760's. They had settled first in the watershed of Opequon Creek, branch of the Shenandoah River in "Old" Frederick County, Virginia. [Frederick County, Virginia was created in 1738 from the parent county, Orange County, but it was not organized till 1745.
Source: Donald B. Reagan, 2013, Genealogy.com - The Ragan/Reagan families in the western frontier of Virginia.
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Having reached at legal age (21 years), Timothy Ragan,Sr. was one of three witnesses to the will of Richard Moss which was written on Thursday, 15 Jul 1700 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. He was living in the area of Magothy River there.
He was married 24 Nov 1703 in Westminister Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland to Mary Lary. Mary was born circa 1686 probably in Ireland or Anne Arundel County, Maryland. No data had been attempted on her parents.
Timothy Ragan,Sr. bought from Christopher Miller on 14 Nov 1705, one hundred (100) acres of land known as "Souldiers Fortune" which was surveyed for Richard Snowdon,Jr. on 08 Dec 1701, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This land was located on "North Branch of Patuxant River in a place called ye fork."
The 1706 tax roll of Baltimore County, Maryland showed Timothy Ragan,Sr. and his family as living in area of "the Upper Part of North Side of Patapsco Hundred."
Then Timothy Ragan,Sr. was listed on 1707 rent rolls for Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties, Maryland. He was charged four Shillings for one hundred acres of land known as "Souldiers Fortune.Ó This land was located on Ôthe North Branch of Patuxent River near Ivey Hill."
He was the one of three witnesses to the will of Nicholas Dorsey which was written on 15 Sep 1717 in St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore County, Maryland.
There is a clause written in Caleb Dorsey's deed on 24 Mar 1721 to John Beale. It mentioned "50 acres part thereof whereon Timothy Ragan now lives." This deed showed that Timothy Ragan,Sr. and his family was still living in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
There is a Bill of Sale document between Timothy Ragan,Sr. of Baltimore County, Maryland and Daniel Hearne of Prince GeorgeÕs County, Maryland for two (2) heifers on 10 Nov 1723. Then Daniel Hearne of Anne Arundel County, Maryland later executed the same Bill of Sale on 10 Jan 1728 for two (2) heifers back to John Ragan and Timothy Ragan,Jr. that he purchased from Timothy Ragan,Sr. previously. On the same document, these two Bill of Sale have had been approved by Provincial Court and were recorded in Archives of Maryland, Volume 697, page 310-311. This Bill of Sale document provided the crucial evidence to prove the relationships between Timothy Ragan,Sr. and his two sons, John Ragan and Timothy Ragan, Jr. Also, here we find real signatory mark for him on this Bill of Sale. It is unique signature mark, "V".
We find that there is a clause written again in Caleb Dorsey's deed on 26 Mar 1732 to John Beale. It stated "50 acres part there of whereon Timothy Ragan now lives." It showed again that he and his family still lives there in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
On 06 Jan 1739/40, there have had been a capital crime, "breaking and entering", by Negro slave Abraham, property of Henry Dorsey against Mary Ragan, wife of Timothy Ragan in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This Negro slave, Abraham, was convicted by the County Court of Anne Arundel County, Maryland in Mar 1739/1740. The death warrant was issued on 20 Mar 1739/40 for Negro slave, Abraham; and was hanged on Wednesday, 26 Mar 1740 at the court house in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This is very unusual crime that have had been committed against her in our Ragan/Reagan family history.
From 14 Mar 1744 deed from Basil Dorsey, son and heir of Caleb Dorsey, late, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, it stated that he "expressed his intentions to give to Timothy Regan where Mary Regan, mother of Timothy then lived." Timothy Ragan who purchased "Chew Vineyard," fifty (50) acress of land in Elk Ridge community in Anne Arundel County, Maryland was Timothy Ragan,Jr.
Timothy Ragan,Sr. must have died before 14 Mar 1744 in Elk Ridge community, Westminister Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It is the belief of this writer that he was buried in unmarked grave beside his wife in the environs of Elk Ridge, Westminister Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Mary Lary Ragan, wife of Timothy Ragan,Sr. remained a widow until her death circa Jan 1764. She left a last will and testament which was written on Sunday, 10 Dec 1752 and was probated on Monday, 23 Jan 1764 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Mary Lary Ragan, widow of Timothy Ragan,Sr. must have had died before 23 Jan 1764 in Elk Ridge community, Westminister Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It is the belief of this writer that she was buried in unmarked grave beside her husband in the environs of Elk Ridge, Westminister Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Source: Donald B. Reagan, genealogy.com: ANCESTRY of TIMOTHY RAGAN/REAGAN, REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER
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Tofterå Slettemoen genealogy
Abt 1678 - Bef 1744 (~ 66 years)
